Attempts to make a system more 'legible' often ignore (or don't fully comprehend) why they exist in a certain way. Remaking the system without understanding these aspects leads to something that makes more sense 'on paper', but undermines the complexities and nuances of the original system.
Example (from the text):
- British implementation of a 4-tier caste in India, as their way of comprehending what was (allegedly) a much more complex social structure. It's now the default caste system in the nation.
- Turning forests into agriculture-like rows of trees creating a fatal monoculture.
- Spanish colonization of the Philippines. In an effort to make records/taxes easier, the Spanish created the "Alphabetical Catalogue of Surnames", restricting the number of assumed names. This countered Filipino culture, which had both assumed Christian names, and siblings having different last names.
Example (from the text):
- British implementation of a 4-tier caste in India, as their way of comprehending what was (allegedly) a much more complex social structure. It's now the default caste system in the nation.
- Turning forests into agriculture-like rows of trees creating a fatal monoculture.
- Spanish colonization of the Philippines. In an effort to make records/taxes easier, the Spanish created the "Alphabetical Catalogue of Surnames", restricting the number of assumed names. This countered Filipino culture, which had both assumed Christian names, and siblings having different last names.